Train Layout Progress #3

Catenary

Next  was to finish the catenary in the station area.  This required putting in cross spans , multiple towers for the cross spans and then hanging the catenary under the covered passenger platform. 

There are four tracks in the station area, 3 of them ( on the left in this picture)  are attached to the triple turnout and dead end at the train station.  The fourth is a through track and is on the right.  They all converge at the single turnout at the bottom of the picture.

There are 3 cross spans, two short (7017) and one long (7016).   All of the cross spans are supported the towers.  I also used the towers in a few places to support regular catenary, but in places where it would support the catenary on both sides as shown here.

Here is another view of catenry setup in the station area.

The two towers in the foreground had to be lowered to ground level of the station area.  The two tracks in the foreground are not part of the station area.  One is main line around the station area and the other is a siding for car storage and place to load cars onto the track.  Since the station is depressed compared to the main line and the lateral distance is small, a retaining wall will be placed between the main line and the station area.  Since I had to cut into raised area, the retaining wall will have to jog around the towers to be realistic.  I dont see this as a major problem, but will require some attention to detail.

 

Here is another view that shows the height difference and the cutout needed for the tower.

Eventually I intend to top each tower with an LED spotlight.  I will either modify the 7046 style with an LED or purchase one of the new LED spotlights for towers that are now available.

The far left side of the triple switch posed special problems.  In the photos below this track is shown from different perspectives.  The issue here is how to run the catenary down this track.  It cant go on the right side, since the covered passenger platform is there.  On the left side are single track passenger platforms.  The choices appeared to be either build the catenary tower into the single track passenger platform or somehow separate the two platforms to leave space for the catenary towers.  

What I did was to separate the two platforms.  Then I took some of the unused short platform pieces and broken catenary towers that I had, and combined the two.  The next photo shows this.  I used pieces of broken towers and parts from sprues of the passenger platform kit.  The towers are made of plastic that does not accept model glue.  I used cyanoacrylate (super glue) to glue down the two tower pieces, the tower and the base, both green in this picture.  Then is used the cyanoacrylate and model glue for the two side pieces.  The two side pieces are part markers from the model sprue.  This gave the area an industrial look of being marked, while providing extra strength for the tower.  I used cyanoacrylate to glue the side to the green tower parts and model glue for the bottom that interfaces with the base.  So far this has proven to be quite strong. 

I did not like the gap in the cover, but for now I have not thought of a better solution.

Underneath the large covered passenger platform I had space between the two covered tracks to place standard catenary towers.  One set went at the end near the train station.  The other set was placed between the second and third platform (from the station) and then it connects to the cross span.  A single 7019 catenary wire spans the length of one platform.  Between the first and second platform, I connected the two 7019 catenary wires with the standard connection screws.  The covered passenger platform comes with plastic support pieces for the catenary.  I have not installed these yet, because I am not sure how permanent these are.

 Right now this all for looks, eventually I want to run the analog electric engines on this path or a second digital circuit.